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Oilcloth Info

OILCLOTH PROJECT IDEAS

Oilcloth/Vinyl fabric is a hard wearing and versatile material which has many uses. It is perfect for interior design and craft projects. It is versatile, easy to sew, 100% waterproof and easy to clean.

If you have any tips you would like to share about working with oilcloth please let us know and please send any photos of items you have made for our gallery page. I will try and update this page with some downloadable patterns soon.

CARING FOR OILCLOTH

Oilcloth is very easy to care for. Follow these simple instructions to keep your oilcloth in tip top condition for years to come

Clean with a warm soapy cloth

Oilcloth is stain resistant but some curry and tomato based sauces may leave a residue. Stains should be wiped as soon as possible and can be faded with bicarbonate of soda or bleach.

Do not machine wash!

Do not iron

Fading may occur when exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods

Creases may appear through folding, but will quickly disappear - especially in warm conditions. Stubborn creasing can be removed by heating gently with a hairdryer on the reverse side.

TIPS FOR SEWING OILCLOTH

Use a leather needle on your sewing machine

Use a good quality thread to minimise the danger of snapping

You may find that the oilcloth feeds better when sewing if you use a special feeder foot on your sewing machine. This will lead to more even stitching.

In general, the thicker the fabric the longer the stitches you should use. If sewing more than one thickness of oilcloth you may want to increase your stitch length.

Practice on a small remnant first!

If you are having difficulty attaching binding - a good trick is to stick the binding where you want it using a fabric or pva glue and paper clips to keep it in position until dry. When you come to sew you'll find it much easier.

If you find it difficult to get your binding to follow the curves of your pattern - make small incisions on the reverse of the binding which will allow it to curve more easily